Tuesday, August 04, 2009
A recent Gallup poll revealed that less than 30% of Americans believe members of Congress can relate to the current problems with health care, and it’s no wonder. When taking into account the wealth of options lawmakers have when it comes to medical plans—most of which are paid for by taxpayers—it’s understandable why so many people doubt the ability of Congress to really grasp their plight.
While 85% of private companies offer their employees exactly one health plan, lawmakers and their staffs have a choice of 10 healthcare options from which to choose. The bounty of HMOs and PPOs are part of what all federal employees enjoy, thanks to the $15 billion spent annually to provide them with benefits.
This situation could change if an amendment sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is adopted requiring members of Congress to give up their current health coverage and enroll in any government plan they create to compete with private insurers. Coburn’s plan has managed to make it out of the Senate Health Committee, which is better than a similar measure that died in the House of Representatives.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Congress' Own Healthcare Benefits: Membership has Its Privileges (by Mark Z. Barabak and Faye Fiore, Los Angeles Times)
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